TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

World's fastest supercomputer:

A supercomputer name Novo-G, described by its lead designer as the most powerful computer of its kind in the world, has become operational at the University of Florida (UF).
Novo-G gets the first part of its name from the Latin term for "make anew, change, alter," and fthe second from 'G' for 'genesis.' A reconfigurable computer, it can rearrange its internal circuitry to suit the task at hand. Applications range from space satellites to research supercomputers-any-where size, energy and high speed are imp0rtant.

According to the university's website, traditional computers use so-called fixed-logic devices to perform a large variety of tasks. This jack-of-all trades approach requires a substantial amount of overhead in space and energy, no matter what work needs to be done. On the other hand, special purpose computers can be built to perform certain tasks very well but are not flexible.
Reconfigurable computers make the best of both worlds. That is because they can rearrange their internal circuitry like Lego blocks, creating the most appropriate architecture for each assignment. As a result, a reconfigurable computer can be ften to 100 times faster than other computers of its size while using five to ten times less energy.

Although the concept has been proven, reconfigurable computers remain at the research stage and are not easy to use. One of the main goals of the NSF Center is toi pioneer techniques to make reconfigurable computers more accessible.

Discover the moon in Google Earth:

Forty years ago, the crew of Apollo 11 walked on the moon. With Moon in Google Earth, it's now possible for you to follow in their footsteps.

Moon in Google Earth is an interactive 3D atlas of the Moon, viewable with Google Earth 5.0. It lets users explore a virtual Moonscape, follow guided tours from astronauts Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11) and Jack Schmitt ( Apollo 17), see the latest rover concepts by teams competing in the Google Lunar X-PRIZE, view high resolution 'street view' style panoramic photos, watch previously unreleased video footage captured from the lunar surface and much more.
Moon in Google Earth will also incorporate a complete lunar terrain date-set, which will serve s the atlas' base-map. Whether you are rediscovering the iconic moments in the history of moon exploration or learning about them for the first time, Moon in Google Earth will enable you to better understand the moon, and our relationship to it, with an immersive, 3D experience.

To experience Moon in Google Earth, open Google Earth 5.0 and switch mode from 'Earth' to 'Moon' on the top toolbar.